Demand vs We need him
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Demand
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
We need him
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Demand
| Demand | We need him | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈmɑːnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈmænd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiː niːd hɪm//🇺🇸 //wi nid hɪm// |
| Meaning | To ask for something forcefully. | We require him to help. |
| Example | The demand for organic food has been steadily increasing over the past few years. | We need him for the project to be successful. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | legitimate, realistic, reasonable, issue, make, present, on demand, demand for, demand from, considerable, enormous, excessive, impose, make, place, demand on, demand upon, big, buoyant, considerable, level, accommodate, cope with, fulfil/fulfill, grow, increase, rise, in demand, demand among, demand for, supply and demand | need him here, need him to help, need him for support, need him on the team |
| Antonyms | surrender, yield, give | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'require' — 'demand' is stronger than 'require'., Using 'demand' without an object — it needs something to demand., Mixing it up with 'request' — 'request' is more polite. | Using 'needed' instead of 'need' when discussing present requirements., Omitting 'him' which may lead to confusion about who is required. |
| Usage notes | Use 'demand' when you want something with urgency or authority. It's neutral but can be seen as aggressive in casual situations. Avoid using it when making polite requests. | Use in situations where you are expressing a need for someone's presence or assistance. Suitable for everyday conversation but may be too direct or impolite in some formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Demand vs We need him
What's the difference between Demand and We need him?
Demand: To ask for something forcefully. We need him: We require him to help.
Which is more common: Demand and We need him?
Demand is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Demand: The demand for organic food has been steadily increasing over the past few years. We need him: We need him for the project to be successful.
Can I use Demand and We need him interchangeably?
Not always. Demand and We need him are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.